John J. Kester

John Jonathan Kester, born January 5th, 1940 in Independence, MO to Jasper and Myrtle Ellen Summers Kester and the loving husband of Cheryl Ann Reshaw Kester, passed away on September 11, 2023 in Topeka, KS.

John graduated from Fort Osage High School and was proud of his two associate degrees he got from Highland Community College later in life. He grew up with his parents and his dear sister, Betty Kester Brooks on a farm outside of Independence. His parents divorced and his father married Dorothy Coleman Kester, who brought with her to their marriage a "bonus family" of her children; Janet, Bill, Judy, Phyllis, and Marsha. It was Bill who first introduced John to Cheryl, while she was a nursing student at the Independence Sanitarium hospital and after a short stint in the US Army Reserves they were married June 23, 1961, celebrating 60 years of marriage before her death in 2021.The San is where they both also made lifelong friendships with Cheryl's fellow graduates and their spouses; culminating in "snow birding" with them as a group in Texas for several months a year. John had a long career working at Goodyear, first in Kansas City, then Topeka. After retiring, he did multiple odd jobs including working for Topeka Lawn and Leisure as well as mowing lawns and snow removal on his dad's old Ford tractor.

John was a lifetime member of the Community of Christ Church, serving in multiple positions in the church after being ordained an Elder in 1967. He and Cheryl were members of the Strato Jets Square Dancing club for 5 years as well as loved to go to the Walnut Valley Blue Grass Festival in Winfield every year and belonged to the Mountain Dulcimer club, traveling to many festivals across Kansas. He loved tinkering with old cars and had restored a 1928 Model T, a 1940 Ford Deluxe and was beginning to restore a Model A. He was a member of several car clubs including the Flint Hills Touring Model A's and Model T Ford Club of America. He coached his girls' softball teams for Ken Berry, played men's softball and officiated softball through Topeka Parks and Rec. He also officiated girls' middle school and high school volleyball for many years. While in Texas, he also joined a senior table tennis league, playing both singles and doubles. John often met the Goodyear retirees for breakfast at McDonalds. He enjoyed playing board games or cards with family and friends, and cherished celebrating every event, no matter how big or small, with his daughters, grandchildren and cadre of friends. He loved to tease others and didn't know a stranger.

He is predeceased by his parents, his loving wife, Cheryl Kester and his stepbrother, William "Bill" Coleman. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, three nieces and several step-nieces and nephews.

John is survived by his sister, Betty Brooks, his stepsiblings, Janet Barnhard, Judy Ford, Phyllis Miller, and Marsha Carder, daughters, Amy Kester-Niehaus (Craig), Kate Grover (Michael), Bonny Kester, Kara Fairbanks and eleven grandchildren, Ian, Colby, Amanda, Thomas, Abbey, Jeffery, Callie, Zane, Regan, Levi and Joshua, as well as one great-grandson, Ronin John.

A reception will be on Friday September 15, 2023 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. With the memorial service being on Saturday September 16, 2023 at 11:00am with lunch to follow both at Community of Christ Church, 5252 SW 19th St, Topeka, KS 66604.

Memorial Donations to Community of Christ Church, 5252 SW 19th St, Topeka, KS 66604, or Prairie Wind Senior Living, 5227 SE 77th St, Berryton, Kansas 66409.

To share a memory of John or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.